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Attentive and helpful staff are always on hand to help and no matter where you go on the site, you can feel the beach pulling you towards it – if it’s sunny that is.

While it’s only a 15-minute walk to the sand, most visitors use the site’s yellow double-decker bus to get into town. Woolacombe itself is tiny, with a handful of surf shops, cafes and huge car park to cater for the hordes who descend in the summer months.

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Head to the Sea Breeze cafe for tasty ice cream and wonderful service.

Woolacombe’s beach is stunning. Wide, sandy and long, it never gets too busy. Surfers, body-boarders and youngsters all mingle happily in the water. Nearby Croyde is even smaller, but equally popular with the surf crowd, and the Manor House Inn does delicious, fresh seafood.

Another good spot for a family meal is The Old Mill at Woolacombe Bay’s sister site Golden Coast (just inland), where there’s a brilliant outdoor play area for the little ones.

Guests at Woolacombe Bay get access to all of Golden Coast’s facilities, including the impressive wave machine and indoor bowling alley.

If the weather isn’t beach-friendly, don’t worry. There is plenty to do in this part of the world. Around 45 minutes drive away is the Big Sheep farm park, which claims to be North Devon’s most popular family attraction.

Young visitors can hand-feed lambs and sheep, drive tractors or enjoy the thrill of its new roller-coaster.

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park overlooks the coast

The nearby Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park is another must-visit attraction in this part of Devon.

Our boys loved the sealion show and the mini-train ride through the hidden valley – just watch out for the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

It was with a heavy heart – and a bulging boot – that we headed home after a week-long break, and wondered whether we should have bought a house with a bigger loft.

Get there

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks in North Devon has 2016 4nt midweek s/c breaks for a family of 4 in a 2-bed holiday home from £89. woolacombe.co.uk 0843 208 0368.

Woolacombe is about 4 miles west of the A361; Barnstaple railway station is about 12 miles.